Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
  • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
  • E01H1/10—Hydraulically loosening or dislodging undesirable matter; Raking or scraping apparatus ; Removing liquids or semi-liquids e.g., absorbing water, sliding-off mud
  • E01H1/108—Removing liquids or semi- liquids, e.g. absorbing rain water, sucking-off mud
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/18—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
  • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
  • B32B3/266—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
  • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
  • B32B3/30—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2305/38—Meshes, lattices or nets

Definitions

• This invention relates to a machine for removing surface water from, for example, playing fields and other recreational areas.
• the present invention provides a machine for . removing surface water which has, as the absorbent material, a material comprising an absorbent backing and a reinforcing layer on the outer face of the backing, the reinforcing layer permitting the passage of water into and out of the backing.
• Such material is able to withstand the stress to which it is subjected in use, even if the machine is motorized. Motorizing the machine provides significant advantages, not only by making the machine easier to operate, but also by making it possible to provide a pump for conveying water from the machine to a tank or drain situated off the playing surface.
• backing preferably comprises a foam material, such as a synthetic plastics or rubber foam.
• the reinforcing layer may be bonded to the " backing by welding or by an adhesive.
• the reinforcing layer may comprise pervious material such as open weave plastics material, similar to that used for scouring cloths.
• the reinforcing layer may be in the form of netting which may be made from plastics or rubber.
• the netting is preferably continuously molded so that the filaments are integrally joined at their intersections. The cross-section of each
• OMPI filament preferably has a flat portion for contact with the backing.
• the pitch of the net may, for example, be in the range 4 to 5 centimetres, and the width of the filaments may be approximately 2 millimetres.
• Figure 1 is .a side view of a machine suitable for clearing surface water from playing fields
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the liquid-absorbent element of the machine of Figure
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the liquid absorbent element of Figure 3.
• Figure 4 shows three alternative cross-sections of the reinforcing layer shown in Figures 2 and 3.
• the machine shown " in Figure 1 comprises a frame 2 in which a roller 4 is supported.
• the roller 4 is powered by a motor 6.
• a small-diameter roller 8 is provided to give the machine stability, and a handle 10 is provided to enable the machine to be controlled by an operator walking behind it. Suitable controls (not shown) are mounted on the handle 10.
• the roller 4 is covered by a liquid-absorbent element 12. As is clear from Figure 1, this element 12 is compressed between the roller 4 and the ground by the weight of the machine. It is also compressed by a squeeze roller 14 provided to the rear of the
• the motor 6 rotates the roller 4 to drive the machine over the area to be cleared.
• the element 12 rolls over the ground, it is progressively compressed by the ground contact and released.
• the element 12 moves off the ground at the rear of the roller 4 and is allowed to expand, it draws water from the ground surface.
• This water is carried by the element 12 as far as the squeezing roller 14, which compresses the element 12 again, squeezing out the water into a trough ⁇ not shown) at the bottom of the frame 2.
• the water is pumped- from the trough by a pump (not shown), driven by the motor 6, into a tank on the machine or, via a hose, to a tank situated nearby.
• FIG 2 illustrates schematically one embodiment of the material from which the liquid-absorbing element 12 is made.
• the element 12 comprises an absorbent backing 15 provided with a reinforcing layer 16.
• the absorbent backing 15 comprises a resilient synthetic plastics or rubber foam and the reinforcing layer comprises moulded plastics material in the form of netting which is bonded to the backing 15 by welding or by the use of a suitable adhesive.
• the thickness of the backing 15 is approximately 4 centimetres, and, as shown in Figure 3, the pitch of the netting is preferably in the range 4 to 5 centi ⁇ metres, although for some uses, such as indoor use, the pitch may be about 1 centimetre.
• Figure 4 shows three possible cross-sections for the filaments of the netting, i.e.
• the width and height of the filaments is approximately 2 millimetres.
• the illustrated reinforcing layer 16 other types of material can be used.
• open weave plastics material may be suitable, in which case the thickness of the reinforcing layer could be in .the range l ⁇ mm to 5 mm. the material would preferably be welded or bonded to the backing 15 over its whole area, but in a manner which does not provide a barrier preventing the passage of water between the reinforcing layer and the backing.
• the reinforcing layer 16 provides increased resistance to damage to the relatively fragile backing 15 from, for example, stones and other sharp objects on the ground, and inhibits the propagation of cuts and tears in the backing 15. Resistance to wear from scuffing is also improved. Furthermore, it is found that the relatively rigid reinforcing layer 16 enables the liquid-absorbing element 12 to penetrate deeper into soft working surfaces such as grass and carpeting so as to increase the pick-up of water from such surfaces
• machines in accordance with the present invention can be used to absorb liquids other than water, for example in factories and other industrial premises, provided that the compositions of the backing 15 and the reinforcing layer 16 are selected to be compatible with the liquids to be absorbed.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Road Paving Structures (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Mechanical Treatment Of Semiconductor (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10528088

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (4)

Citations (9)

• 1982
  • 1982-02-03 GB GB08203086A patent/GB2114508A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1983
  • 1983-02-01 EP EP83900643A patent/EP0099916A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-02-01 JP JP83500719A patent/JPS59500178A/ja active Pending
  • 1983-02-01 WO PCT/GB1983/000024 patent/WO1983002789A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1983-09-28 NO NO833514A patent/NO833514L/no unknown
  • 1983-10-03 DK DK4555/83A patent/DK455583D0/da not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1983-10-03 FI FI833592A patent/FI833592A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (9)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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